How To Prevent Sun Damaged Hair

Ever gone through a hot summer month or taken a beach vacation and ended up with hair that feels like straw? Well, that’s sun damage. And we HATE it.

To avoid unwanted breakage, split ends, and a dried out scalp (to name a few) from sun damage, we talked to Eric Del Monaco, L’Oréal Paris Official Hair Artist and Colourist and owner of Del Monaco Hair Studio in Toronto for some preventative tips.

According to Del Monaco, the leading cause of damaged hair in the hot summer months are:

2. Neglecting regular conditioning treatments: Regular conditioning treatments keep hair well hydrated and nourished to help you to avid frizzy hair in the summer. “Incorporating a conditioning treatment, such as a moisturizing hair mask in addition to your regular shampoo and conditioner routine keeps hair from drying out.”

3. Not washing surf from your hair: When at the beach or in the pool surf water and chlorine can do a number on your hair. “It is important to immediately shower after coming out of the pool or ocean to remove any residue right away. A great tip I give to my clients,” says Del Monaco, “is to apply a dime sized amount of conditioner or hair mask to coat the hair which prevents any salt water or chlorine from sticking.”

4. Failing to get regular trims: Regular trims keep hair looking good. “Even in the lazy and hazy days of summer visit your hairstylist regularly as this will maintain the overall health of your hair and help to avoid breakage and split ends which result in frizziness.”

For Del Monaco, “The first step to protecting your hair is to change up your hair care regimen to suit your needs in the summer, which can differ from the colder months. If you are naturally prone to dry, damaged hair and plan to be outside a lot, use shampoo, conditioner plus a treatment to nourish the hair and protect it from seasonal factors.”

Another important way to protect your hair and prevent damage is to ensure you have sun protection either built into your hair products or to apply a hair sunscreen -especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. “This will protect the colour and the integrity of your hair and limit the dulling and drying effects of the sun,” shares Del Monaco. Apply sunscreen to your hair each time you are about to go outdoors.

Try: Kérestase Huile Celeste ($42)

But overall “the key to protecting hair this summer is condition, condition and condition,” says Del Monaco. A detangling spray applied after a day of being in the water helps to keep strands from unnecessary breakage, as hair is still easy to comb through.